MLB Player News

Ramirez will return to the lineup Saturday after sitting out Friday as part of planned maintenance since he returned from a hamate injury, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Ramirez bypassed a rehab assignment and returned directly from the injured list to the Guardians' roster July 22. Manager Stephen Vogt knew he would need to be mindful of how much Ramirez plays and when. The third baseman has started 16 of 21 games and posted a .197/.333/.197 slash line since his return .

Lugo did not factor into the decision in Friday's 7-6 win over the Angels, allowing five runs on seven hits and no walks with four strikeouts over 4.2 innings.

Lugo was mostly undone by a four-run third inning and departed after 86 pitches in the fifth after allowing a game-tying single with two outs. It's been an uneven second half for the veteran, who's posted four quality starts in six outings while also succumbing to two five-run blowups. He owns a 4.59 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 108:46 K:BB across 139.1 innings this season and lines up to face the Athletics at home next week.

Cruz earned the save in Friday's 7-6 win over the Angels, allowing one hit and no walks with one strikeout in a scoreless ninth inning.

Cruz was called on with a one-run lead in the ninth inning and closed things out on 12 pitches. The 27-year-old has converted each of his four save chances since the All-Star break, posting a 2.57 ERA over 14 appearances during that span. On the year, he's tallied four saves and four holds to go along with a 4.17 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 51:18 K:BB across 45.1 innings.

Alvarez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Friday's 10-7 extra-inning win over the Mariners.

Alvarez got the Astros on the board with a solo shot off George Kirby, ending his longest stretch without a homer this season at 13 games. The slugger has still been productive despite lacking his usual pop, as he's now posted a .946 OPS with six RBI and seven runs scored in 12 August contests. He's slashing .323/.437/.626 with 36 homers, 88 RBI, 81 runs scored and one steal across 535 plate appearances, with a realistic shot at becoming baseball's first Triple Crown winner since Miguel Cabrera in 2012.

Altuve went 2-for-5 with a run scored and two stolen bases in Friday's 10-7 extra-inning win over the Mariners.

Altuve returned after being hit by a pitch on the foot Wednesday, and he looked just fine, tallying two hits while swiping two bags. It was the veteran's fifth multi-hit effort in 11 August games, and he owns an .836 OPS with five RBI and six runs scored during the month. For the year, he's slashing .242/.305/.391 with 13 homers, 35 RBI, 55 runs scored and four steals across 414 plate appearances.

Walker went 2-for-5 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored in Friday's 10-7 extra-inning win over the Mariners.

Walker came up clutch, launching a three-run blast off Andres Munoz to end the game in the bottom of the 10th inning. It was a good time for the 35-year-old's first homer in 12 August contests, as he entered play on an 0-for-10 skid after opening the month with a hit in seven straight games. On the year, he's slashing .238/.317/.455 with 23 homers, 70 RBI and 61 runs scored across 489 plate appearances.

Lambert did not factor into the decision in Friday's 10-7 extra-inning win over the Mariners, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks with six strikeouts over five innings.

Lambert allowed two runs in the first inning but settled in from there, generating 12 swinging strikes on 96 pitches while limiting the Mariners to just two hard-hit balls. The 29-year-old is now winless in six starts since the All-Star break despite yielding two earned runs or fewer and completing at least five innings in each of those outings. He'll carry a 3.11 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 117:46 K:BB across 118.2 innings this season into a home matchup with the Angels next week.

Kirby did not factor into the decision in Friday's 10-7 extra-inning loss to the Astros, allowing five runs on eight hits and three walks with two strikeouts over 4.2 innings.

The damage was done early, as Kirby surrendered a solo homer in the first before enduring a four-run second inning. He labored overall, issuing three walks for just the third time this season while generating only seven whiffs on 99 pitches. The 28-year-old has now posted a 4.39 ERA through five second-half outings, though 12 of the 13 runs he's allowed have come in two blow-up starts. He'll take a 3.89 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 114:31 K:BB across 136.2 innings this season into a road matchup with the Brewers next week.

Munoz (5-5) blew the save and took the loss in Friday's 10-7 extra-inning loss to the Astros, allowing five runs (four earned) on four hits and no walks with one strikeout while recording two outs in the 10th inning.

Munoz was summoned to protect a two-run lead in the 10th inning and imploded with two outs, allowing a game-tying single before surrendering a three-run walk-off homer to Christian Walker. It was a crushing end to what had been a strong run for the 27-year-old, who entered the contest having yielded only two earned runs over his previous 19 appearances dating back to June 16. On the year, he's a disappointing 21-for-28 in save chances to go along with a 4.47 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 70:17 K:BB across 44.1 innings.

Manager John Schneider said that Woods Richardson will be part of the Blue Jays' pitching plan for Saturday's game against the Yankees "in some capacity," Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Right-hander Braydon Fisher will start for Toronto, but he's unlikely to work more than an inning or two before giving way to the bullpen. Woods Richardson will be available on four days' rest and will likely be tasked with covering multiple innings in relief behind Fisher. After being called up from Triple-A Buffalo on Monday, Woods Richardson came on in long relief in the Blue Jays' victory over the Red Sox later that night, earning the win after giving up one earned run across three innings.